420 A. E. Verrill— The Bermuda Islands. 
people. The general use of boats for the transportation of goods 
and persons rendered horses of less importance than in most places. 
Horses, however, must have become somewhat common by 1672, for 
some of the militia men were mounted, and orders were given to 
have the horses trained so that they would stand the noise of drums 
and the discharge of firearms. 
34.—Introduction of Birds. 
a.—Poultry. 
Domestic poultry, including turkeys, were probably introduced 
by the earliest settlers, in 1612, and became abundant in a few 
years, though Governor Butler stated that the geese and pigeons, 
like goats, did not succeed very well at first. But probably this 
was only a temporary drawback, due to unaccustomed food. 
Governor Butler, 1619, mentions the poultry, as follows : 
“And thes are the natives of the ayre ; to which have bin added, 
by the late inhabitants, great store of turkeys and abundance of 
cocks and hens, which every daye growe wilde ; numbers of tame 
chicks, and some fewe geese and house pigeons; but thes last two 
like not so well, for by some disagreeinge foode they kill them- 
selves.” 
Probably some of the native fruits and seeds, which they had not 
then learned to avoid, were poisonous to these fowls.* 
The Rey. Mr. Hughes, 1614, says : 
“The cocks and hennes wee brought with us doe prosper and 
increase much, and are a great comfort unto us.”’ 
Ducks and the Guinea Fowl or Pintado were introduced later, as 
also the Peacock, ete. 
Mr. Hurdis (p. 407) also mentions the South American Powee or 
Crested Curassow, as not uncommon in his time, kept with other 
poultry as an ornamental bird. 
Domestic Pigeons at certain periods appear to have become half 
wild, and are said to have nested in holes and caverns of the cliffs. 
One locality is still called Pigeon Cave. At present they are not 
abundant, so far as we observed. 
* Mr. Hurdis, Rough Notes, p. 303, states that he repeatedly tried, without 
success, to keep imported fowls bought from vessels, but they invariably died 
very soon, though the native ones were perfectly healthy. Some of the people 
complained to us that the Octopus often seized and killed their ducks and geese. 
